Apparatus for aftertreatment of freshspun artificial filaments in continuous flowing liquid



Dec. 4, 1956 P. A. NIKLES ETA APPARATUS FOR AFTERTREATMENT OF FRESH-SPUNARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS IN CONTINUOUS FLOWING LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMay 4, 1950 INVENTORS: PAUL N\KLE.6 ROBERT S EIGER GulbO BACH m apxmaDec. 4, 1956 P. A. NIKLES ETAL 2,

APPARATUS FOR AFTERTREATMENT 0F FRESH-SPUN ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS INCONTINUOUS FLOWING LIQUID Filed May 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSIPaul Nwdes Robert. Stes'er- Guudo Bach BY W 1956 P. A. NIKLES ETAL2,772,552

APPARATUS FOR AFTERTREATMENT 0F FRESH-SPUN ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS INCONTINUOUS FLOWING LIQUID Filed May 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 J0 2, FIG.8

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INVENTORS! PAUL N: KLES ROBERT STEIGER Gmoo BAcH BYWW Dec. 4, 1956 P. A.NIKLES T AL 2,772,552

APPARATUS FOR AFTERTREATMENT OF FRESH-SPUN ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS INCONTINUOUS FLOWING LIQUID Filed May 4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I m i F! a[1/29 5 0 p p P 6a l/VVfNTORZ'JI PAUL N mu-zs ROBERT STEIGER Gums BAcHUnited States Patent APPARATUS FOR AFTERTREATMENT OF FRESH- SPUNARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS IN CONTINU- OUS FLOWING LIQUID Paul Alfred N ikles,Bern, Robert Steiger, Muri, near Bern, and Guido Bach, Bern,Switzerland, assignors to ing. A. Maurer S. A., Bern, SwitzerlandApplication May 4, 1950, Serial No. 159,892

Claims priority, application Switzerland May 5, 1949 3 Claims. (Cl.68--181) Methods are known in the art of dyeing, bleaching, andotherwise treating fresh spun rayon or other artificial filaments inwhich the filaments for the purpose of aftertreating and subsequentdrying are run in continuous operation, in helical turns over guidedrums or reels, whereby they pass through the required aftertreatingliquids for the purpose of being de-acidified, desulfurated, washed,bleached, shaded-oft, and the like. It further is known to runartificial filaments by means of rollers or guideways through thevarious aftertreating troughs or basins.

Our present invention follows a new path in the aftertreatment anddrying of the filaments. According to our invention, as disclosed in thefollowing description, the filament is aftertreated and, at the sametime, transported in piped streams of aftertreating liquids. Thefilament, further, may be transported from one zone of aftertreatment,i. e. from one aftertreatment liquid, to the other without the aid ofany transfer rollers or guide elements by purely hydraulic means,whereby the entire arrangement and its operation are substantiallysimplified.

Our invention also relates to means for carrying out such new method,comprising a piping system through which the filament is transported,and means for delivering a stream of aftertreating liquids through thepipes. The latter suitably are provided with constricted passages inorder to run the filament along the center line of the pipes. The latterat their outlet ends may be tapered in order to impart a slight tensionto the filament. The pipes suitably also are provided with bays orenlarged passages in which the filament bundle is repeatedly opened and,therefore, the time of treatment is reduced. In a further form of ourpresent invention the pipe of each aftertreatment zone, through whichthe aftertreatment liquid is cycled, comprises a branch port throughwhich the filament is transferred immediately to the beginning of thesucceeding aftertreatment zone.

A plurality of means for carrying out the method disclosed by ourpresent invention are shown by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1, comprising the section 1a and 1b, showsschematically a vertical section through the entire system of a firstform,

Fig. 2 is a partial plan view of Figs. 1a and 1b,

Fig. 3 an end view of the spinning head,

Fig. 4 a longitudinal section through a liquid jet pump,

Figs. 5-7 show partial elevations of modifications,

Fig. 8 shows a pipe in elevation having a constricted passage,

Fig. 9 a pipe in elevation having a constricted passage, forming aVenturi tube,

Fig. a pipe in elevation having a tapered delivery end,

Fig. 11 a pipe in elevation having an enlarged passage,

Fig. 12 shows schematically a second form of invention, and

Fig. 13 shows schematically a modification of the form of inventionshown in Fig. 12.

As shown in Figs. 1-3, the spinning solution is extruded in conventionmanner through nozzles 1 into a coagulation bath from which the filamentis run to a collecting basin 4 over the two stretching means 2 and 3.One end of a pipe 5 which in its center portion is helically coiled, isdisposed in the basin 4, and its other end is connected to a liquid jetpump 6. The latter, however, also could be put at the opposite end ofpipe 5.

As shown in Fig. 4, liquid is supplied under pressure to the pump 6through a pipe 7 and passes through a nozzle 8 into a collecting basin9. By virtue of the injector action of the liquid flowing through nozzle8, a vacuum is produced in pipe 5, and the filament sucked through thelatter together with the liquid in basin 4. The liquid in basin 9 is fedthrough a pipe 10 to a sump 11. From the latter the liquid is fedthrough a pump 12 and pipe 13 partly back into basin 4 through a pipe14, and partly through pipe 7 (see Figures 4 and 1) back into the jetpumps 6. The treating liquid thus is continuously circulated throughpipe 5. From basin 9, the filament is run into a tray 15 associated witha second treating zone II in which the filament undergoes a secondaftertreatment through a second liquid and in a manner similar as in thezone I.

In Fig. 1, a total of four similar zones of treatment I-IV are shown, inwhich the filament is aftertreated. Having passed through the last zoneof treatment IV, the filament is run into a pipe 16 which terminates inan injector 17 Drying air is blown through the latter into a pipe 18 atthe end of which is disposed a box 19. The air is sucked from the latterthrough a fan 20 and fed in circulation back to the injector 17 througha heater 21. Fresh air may be introduced into heater 21 and waste airtaken therefrom, respectively, at points 22 and 23 in order to maintainthe degree of humidity of the treating air. From box 19, the filament isrun over a roller 24 to a twisting or throwing apparatus 25 or to a reelfor parallel windmg.

Instead of using air, the filament may be dried by means of adehydrating liquid or a non-hydroscopic heated liquid. In such case, thedrying zone may be identical with the aftertreatment zone IV forexample, so that the liquid is circulated through a pipe through whichthe filament runs at the same time.

Fig. 5 shows a modification in which the pipe 5', instead of beinghelically wound, is straight or, respectively, has a single bend.

Fig. 6 shows a further modification in which positively driven discs 26are provided at the end of each aftertreating zone for the purpose ofmechanically drawing ed the filament and thus aiding the transportthereof. The rate of flow of liquid through pipe 5" thereby may bereduced to a minimum.

Fig. 7 shows a'still further modification in which, at the end of eachpipe 5, a chamber 27 is provided. In the latter, a vacuum is producedwhich induces the flow of liquid in the aftertreatment pipe 5", and,thus, causes the transport of the filament.

In Fig. 8, a rayon filament is passed through pipe 5a (see Fig. 12) in astream of after-treatment liquid in the manner described. The pipe 5a isconstricted at 2 for centrally guiding the filament in the pipe. At thepoints of constriction, the fiow velocity of the liquid is suflicientlyhigh to afiord a good filament transport and to prevent the filamentfrom sticking to the pipe wall. Such constricted passages permit a verymaterial reduction of the amount of liquid in comparison with pipes ofsubstantially uniform diameter.

A modified constriction 3 in pipe 5a in Fig. 9 diflFers from that shownin Fig. 8 in that the former is formed as Venturi tube in order toobtain a minimum pressure drop at the point of constriction.

The constrictions 2 and 3' of Figs. 8 and 9 may be introduced into pipesbearing the figure at points where the filaments tend to fall or bepushed against the sides of the pipes.

In Fig. 10, the discharge end of pipe 5 (as in Fig. 4, which may be anypipe where the aftertreatment is under positive pressure may be taperedat 4' in order to subject the filament to a slight tension.

The pipe 5:: in Fig. 1 1 is enlarged at Such enlargements afford arepeated or successive opening of the filament bundle at any desiredpoints in the pipes bearing the figure 5 or 5a so as to verysubstantially reduce the time of treatment.

In the second form of invention illustrated in Fig. 12, a plurality oftanks 4a are shown for receiving difierent aftertreatment liquids. Toeach of said tanks is connected a pipe 5:: through which the respectiveliquid is returned in a cycle to the tank by means of a liquid jet pumpor ejector 6a which is disposed at the very beginning of pipe 5a. Eachpipe 5a comprises a top bend 5b, a branch port 50, and an outlet 5d. Therayon filament to be treated is passed through the pipe 5a with the aidof the liquid stream and leaves the pipe through the branch port 50 toenter directly into the pump 6a of the succeeding treatment zone. Forthe purpose of introducing the filament into the apparatus, the outlet5d of the respective pipe 5a is closed or throttled, either manually orby means of a baffle, as soon as the filament has arrived in bend 5b sothat at least part of the liquid stream is diverted through the saidport 50 and entrains the filament therethrough. The respective outletthen is opened again, and such operation is repeated in eachaftertreatment zone until the filament has been passed through theentire system. By suitably shaping and adapting the branch ports 50 andthe outlets 5d, the amount of liquid flowing out through the port 5cduring aftertreatment may be reduced to a minimum, thereby preventingthe various treatment liquids from intermixing.

In the modification shown in Fig. 13, Obturators (closures) 28 areassociated with the outlets 5d of all the pipes 5a. The said obturatorsare pivoted for readily closing and opening the outlets 5d by mountingthe same on axle pins 29 and at the other end are connected to a commonaxially slidable rod 30. The latter is operable by means of a lever 31pivoted on a pin 32. When the lever is swung clockwise from the positionshown, the obturators 28 close or throttle all the outlets 5d so as todivert at least the major portion of the liquid stream through thebranch ports 50. In such latter position (shown by a dotand-dash line inFig. 13) of lever 31, the filament may be automatically introduced intothe apparatus with the aid of the liquid stream, whereupon-duringaftertreatment of the filament-the lever is swung back again into theposition shown by full lines.

In the means described, the aftertreatment liquid may be moved by meansof a vacuum (injector) or under pressure (ejector), which injector orejector may be disposed at any point of the pipe. Mechanical transportmeans for carrying the filament onward may be reduced to a minimum orentirely eliminated. The means disclosed by our present invention areextremely simple in operation. The filament is handled with extremecare, since it does not contact any solid bodies on its path of travel,but mostly is surrounded by a protecting liquid current. As the means,further, do not comprise any complicated or structurally intricateparts, their maintenance is very much simplified.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An apparatus for the, continuous wet treatment of fresh spunartificial filament by passing it through a conduit in contact with anaftertreatment liquid comprising a tubular conduit for the treatment ofthe filament in a continuously flowing stream of the aftertreatmentliquid, means for directing the filament into and out of said conduit,means for conveying the filament through said conduit by the action ofsaid liquid comprising a pressure means for forcing said liquid throughsaid conduit in the direction of fiow of said filament, and means forfacilitating the treatment of said filament and guiding it along thecentral portion of the conduit and within the liquid therein comp-risinga section of restricted cross sectional area and a means on said conduitfor repeatedly opening the fiber bundle, constituting said filament,comprising sections of enlarged cross sectional area intermediate theends of the conduit.

2. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of fresh spunartificial filament by passing it through a conduit in contact with anaftertreatment liquid comprising a series of cyclic tubular conduits forthe treatment of the filament in a flowing stream of aftertreatmentliquid, means for directing the filament into the series of conduits,means for directing the filament out of the series of conduits, pumpmeans for forcing the liquid through said conduits in the direction offiow of said filament, branch port means in said conduits fordischarging said filament from one of the series of conduits leadinginto an adjacent conduit, and means for guiding the filament along thecentral portion of the conduits and within the stream of liquid thereincomprising a section of restricted cross sectional area in said conduitsintermediate the ends thereof.

3. An apparatus for the continuous wet treatment of fresh spunartificial filament by passing it through a conduit in contact with anaftertreatment liquid comprising a series of cyclic tubular conduits forthe treatment of the filament in a flowing stream of aftertreatmentliquid provided with inlet and outlet ports for said liquid, means fordirecting the filament into the series of conduits, means for directingthe filament out of the series of conduits, pump means for forcing theliquid through said conduits in the direction of flow of said filament,branch port means in said conduits for discharging said filament fromone of the series of conduits leading into an adjacent conduit, meansfor closing said outlet ports, and means for guiding the filament alongthe central portion of the conduits and within the stream of liquidtherein comprising a section of restricted cross sectional area in saidconduits intermediate the ends thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS225,363 Gray et al. Mar. 9, 1880 231,014 Danunhauer Aug. 10, 1880688,742 Laag et al. Dec. 10, 1901 1,430,126 Lyth Jan. 10, 1922 1,871,100Walton Aug. 9, 1932 1,897,122 Hartmann Feb. 14, 1933 2,131,409 Nai Sept.27, 1938 2,203,678 Dursteler June 11, 1940 2,203,793 Lovett June 11,1940 2,268,590 Hinnekens June 6, 1942 2,344,973 Croft Mar. 28, 19442,360,352 Lodge Oct. 17, 1944 2,371,579 Cole Mar. 13, 1945 2,460,206Wentz Jan. 25, 1949 2,568,499 Hood Sept. 18, 1951 2,577,915 Piller Dec.11, 1951 2,642,035 McDermott June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS- 504,995Germany Aug. 13, 1930 256,814 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1949

